Christmas ... just around the corner !!

Well I know I've already bought some Christmas Cards, purchased from the RNLI shop visited earlier this year, but when I saw this yesterday I thought

Selfridges has already launched its Christmas shop. The department store is the first in the world to open, 143 days before Christmas Day.

Selfridges has become the first department store in the world to launch its Christmas shop – a full 143 shopping days before the big day.

Christmas came early to the iconic British department store which transformed 3,000 square feet of its fourth floor into an Arctic wonderland filled with festive treasures and glittering decorations.

Even Father Christmas was present, having taken a day's break from his North Pole workshop to welcome shoppers and make a few purchases of his own.Geraldine James, Selfridges Christmas Home & Decorations Buyer, said: "Despite the summer weather, we're in full festive mode here at Selfridges. We've been working on this year's Christmas Shop since Christmas last year."We have so many customers visiting from all over the world and eager to snap up festive souvenirs on their summer holidays, which they can't buy at home.

"So, we have to make sure we're ready to showcase Christmas decorations they will truly treasure."For shoppers who like to plan ahead, trends for Christmas 2015 include personalised decorations, black and white monochrome and 'Magical Forest', which includes wood-based decorations and woodland creatures.The store also revealed that this year's Christmas theme is 'Journey to the Stars', with a special line of decorations called 'Moonlight Magic' launched today.The shop's very first customers, Holly and Ken Martin, from Pennsylvania, USA, bought a Christmas 2015 bauble to mark their UK holiday.

Each of the thousands of Selfridges glass baubles was designed exclusively for the store and was individually mouth-blown from one carefully-selected supplier in Hungary.The second phase of the shop's opening will be in Autumn, when the floor space devoted to all things festive will be more than doubled to 60,000 square feet.Open fully, the winter wonderland will include more than 60,000 baubles, 120+ cracker options, and 1,250+ different cards and wrapping paper designs.But for now, it's all hands on deck – especially for the man in charge.When asked if he shouldn't be taking it easy in August, the man with the beard said: "Relaxing? Oh I'm afraid not."Christmas is all year round – I do take a little break in January but now is build up time, getting ready for the big day."

Don't be fooled by the sunshine and balmy temperatures: it's officially the Christmas period. The Co-Op was the first supermarket to roll out their mince pies - with some stores stocking them as early as 29 August - and the other brands weren't far behind.

The Co-op says it will sell 1.5 million by the end of the month, and they'll have to, because many of the pies have a best before date at the beginning of October

Festive goodies

The other supermarkets have been breaking out the festive fare too. Tesco had Christmas chocolates available in some stores from 26 August, and has rolled out some of its festive aisles this week. Sainsbury's started with a few items on September 1st and have been putting everything from chocolate to Christmas puddings and festive gift sets on the shelves this week.

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Earlier Christmas?

Each year when the supermarkets kick off the Christmas period it feels incredibly early. It seems as though it's even earlier than last year - but it isn't. Some festive goodies were on the shelves of Tesco and Co-Op last year as early as 20 August, and Tesco stores across the country started rolling them out from 1 September. In some cases they launched an entire aisle of festive treats on day one.

The supermarkets aren't even the first to embrace the festive season. That title goes to Selfridges in London, which launched its Christmas shop at the beginning of August, to catch the tourist trade.

And while you might think Christmas has come way too early, there are those who have been desperate for festive goodies for months. A study back in July revealed that a million people had already bought all their Christmas presents, while 38% of people had already bought at least one gift. Meanwhile, throughout the summer, people were taking to Twitter to bemoan their lack of mince pies and Christmas pudding. You could argue, therefore, that the supermarkets are just giving people what they want.

With only seven weekends shopping to go if you have a low carber / diabetic in your family and feel the need to buy them a little stocking filler, then how about these Mini Dark Chocolate Father Christmas Figures.

When all the children were at home, Christmas meant the house was decked out with so many decorations ... paper chains ... home-made fairies etc.

Now with just the two of us at home we keep it more minimal, and have great fun seeing all the younger family members homes decked out in their style. Balloons, reindeer, elves you name it they will be there somewhere ...

Many love to make their own decorations and Hobbycraft type shope are very popular ... looking at their web site they state:

"Christmas has come early to Hobbycraft! Browse our huge range of Christmas craft supplies, gift ideas and decorations. From decorating the tree to crafting handmade gifts for loved ones, it’s the personalised touches that make Christmas special. From easy Christmas craft ideas and kids craft kits,"

Now, I'm not saying dash off to Hobbycraft ... but I know of quite a few adults and children alike who get great satisfaction from getting 'hands on and creative' at this time of year.

With December just around the corner, many towns are looking festive, with window displays and lights up ready for the big switch on.

One of the grandchildren is quite involved with his towns Christmas Festivities and will be taking part in an illuminated procession ... dressed as a reindeer ... I only hope it will not be too chilly.

My dear dad is 90yrs young ... and is especially looking forward to next Tuesday 1st December ... one of his grandchildren, (my nephew), has bought him an advent calendar, and Shhh don't tell anyone it's the sort with chocolates in

This weekend I think many towns were hoping to host a Christmas Switch On ... alas for some this will be cancelled / postponed. The great British weather is to 'blame'

Christmas lights switch-ons cancelled amid strong winds

A number of towns across the UK have cancelled their Christmas lights switch-on events this weekend amid warnings of blustery weather.Bognor Regis, Portsmouth and parts of Ayrshire are among the areas that have suspended their festive plans as the Met Office issued warnings of strong winds, as well as heavy rainfall in some areas.Gusts of up to 70mph are expected around some exposed coastal areas, with more inland areas reaching between 50-60 mph winds throughout Saturday and Sunday.Local authorities across Scotland have cancelled their switch-on celebrations - including Irvine in North Ayrshire, which was expecting an appearance from The Only Way Is Essex Star James Lock - as the country faces snow on higher ground.The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Saturday and Sunday covering the whole of England and Wales, though the far north is expected to be slightly less windy than the rest of the UK.Winds speeds will strengthen from the west on Saturday morning with coastlines exposed to the west and south west experiencing 60mph gusts, the Met Office said.

Well I'm off out tomorrow night with little brother for an early Christmas bash, normally we'd go out the week before Christmas but he's booked a nineteen day Caribbean cruise and won't be back in the UK till the 23rd December.

Jealous what me

_________________I'm a skinny T2 diagnosed 4/4/2008, a high calorie LCHF diet and one metformin a day A1c 6.2 and no complications.

Method:1. Put the pomegranate juice in a small saucepan with a sprig of Rosemary. Bring to the boil and reduce for a few mins until syrupy. Leave to cool, then chill until ready to use.2. Fill four Champagne flutes with 1 part pomegranate syrup and top up with 3 parts Prosecco. Garnish each glass with a rosemary sprig, if you like.

This lovely idea comes from Carolyn at All Day I Dream About Food. It is an extremely popular recipe for all who live the LCHF lifestyle. Why not give these a try, and let your imagination (or those of your children / grandchildren) run wild ... as you and they enjoy decorating these Gingerbread Men and Ladies ...

Her status has now been shared more than 62,000 times with many people commenting to say they plan to follow her lead.

Speaking to The Metro, Scott said: "There’s been so much bad news in regards to the Paris attacks, that I thought it would be nice to show people that we do care and there are still lots of loving people around.

"I never dreamed I would get the response I have. I will be getting everyone offering to help to drop stuff at my home just before Christmas Eve, and I will take some boxes around the streets and some to a homeless shelter."

On a personal note I have seen many of the local supermarkets have put collection boxes in their stores for items to be donated to local homes / food banks etc ... it looks as if people are being thoughtful and donating non perishable items ... I'm sure every item does help

For one of the wealthiest nations in the world why do we have homeless people a roof over your head and enough to eat should be for the deprived of this country a basic no matter what the circumstances, also the need for food banks is obscene, though I applaud the generosity of people and I do contribute it should not be necessary.

Scary isn't it, on the one hand "epidemics" of obesity and diabetes etc. and on the other hand people with nothing. We differ little from any other third world country - except that in the third world the rich are fat and the poor are thin, and in the west the rich are thin and the poor are fat.

These two, and our other grandchildren, are counting down to Christmas.Just two more days of getting up and out in time for school and then yahoo ... the holidays and it's that much nearer to Father Christmas visiting

The countdown is on! Selfridges opens its Christmas shop in London including an £800 Nordic spruce and a £100 nutcracker (and yes, it IS still August)

The Oxford Street store thew open the doors to its Christmas shop today Claims to be the world's earliest Christmas shop of its kindHowever there are still four months and 146 sleeps until the big dayIts earliest opening was in 2011 when it threw open its doors in JulyShoppers can pick up personalised stockings and artificial trees

There may still be 146 sleeps to go until Christmas, but that hasn't stopped Selfridges from launching its festive range a staggering four months early.The London department store officially threw open the doors to its winter wonderland today, which comprises 3,000 square feet, 50,00 decorations and countless strings of fairy lights.This year's theme is 'shine on', with everything from neon-hued Christmas trees to multicoloured baubles and ornate tinsel wreaths on offer at the Oxford Street shopping destination.